Foreign Minister Khanal: Government Working on Practical Use of Non-Resident Nepali Citizenship

Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has stated that the government is working on bringing the citizenship obtained by non-resident Nepalis into practical use. Minister Khanal clarified that although non-resident Nepalis have obtained citizenship in accordance with the constitution and laws, its full use has not been possible so far, and therefore the government has had to seriously address this issue. Replying to questions raised by members of the National Assembly during the discussion on the allocation of his ministry on Tuesday, he clarified that the government has already provided citizenship to non-resident Nepalis, excluding political rights, as ensured by the constitution. Speaking in the house, Minister Khanal said, 'The Constitution of Nepal ensures that Nepali non-resident citizens within three generations residing outside South Asia can be granted citizenship, and they can enjoy social, economic, and cultural rights excluding political rights. The citizenship law in Nepal is also in accordance with that. And many Nepalis have already obtained that citizenship. Currently, that citizenship has not been brought into use. We have to work on that. The identity card of citizenship obtained through the rights guaranteed by the constitution and laws has not solved practical problems. What we need to do now is that the citizenship obtained in accordance with the rights granted through the constitution and laws is being seriously worked on by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a matter of bringing it into practical use.' Minister Khanal also admitted that there has been some delay in bringing the non-resident Nepali citizenship into full practical use. Earlier, non-resident Nepalis had been complaining that despite obtaining citizenship, they were unable to enjoy services and facilities due to various legal and administrative hurdles.